Pressure-sensitive layering of displayed objects

Abstract

First and second objects are displayed on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device. An intersection is detected between the objects. Contact by one or more input mechanisms is detected in a region that corresponds to the first displayed object. Pressure applied by at least one input mechanisms is sensed. The depth of the first displayed object is adjusted as a function of the sensed pressure. The depth of the displayed objects are determined at their detected intersection. The determined depths of the displayed objects are compared. Based on a result of comparing the determined depths, data is stored indicating that one of the displayed objects is overlapping the other. In addition, the displayed objects are displayed such that the overlapping displayed object is displayed closer to a foreground of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device than the other displayed object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display, a method for dragging a displayed object relative to another displayed object, the method comprising:
 displaying two or more objects on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display;   receiving a user input via one or more user interactions with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display;   sensing a pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display in a display region that corresponds to a first displayed object;   adjusting one or more of a shape and a location of the first displayed object based on the sensed pressure while tracking movement of an input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the first displayed object;   based on tracking movement of the input mechanism during the adjusting of the first displayed object, detecting an intersection between the first displayed object and a second displayed object;   determining a depth of the first displayed object at the intersection between the first displayed object and the second displayed object as a function of the sensed pressure;   determining a depth of the second displayed object at the detected intersection with the first displayed object;   comparing the depth of the first displayed object with a depth of the second displayed object at their detected intersections;   storing data based on the comparison that indicates that one of the first displayed object and the second displayed object is overlapping the other of the first displayed object and the second displayed object; and   displaying based on the stored data the first displayed object and the second displayed object such that overlapping objects are displayed closer to a foreground of the display than the other objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting a depth of the first displayed object relative to a display plane as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display, wherein adjusting the depth includes:
 calculating a tilt plane for the first displayed object as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display by the input mechanism that contacts the display in a region that corresponds to the first displayed object, and 
 applying a tilt to the first displayed object as a function of the calculated tilt plane for the first displayed object; and 
 determining the depth of the first displayed object at its intersection with the second displayed object based on the tilt applied to the first displayed object. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving an additional user input via one or more user interactions with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display in a region that corresponds to the second displayed object;   sensing a pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display via the additional user input in the region that corresponds to the second displayed object;   calculating a tilt plane for the second displayed object as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display by the additional user input in the region that corresponds to the second displayed object;   applying a tilt to the second displayed object as a function of the calculated tilt plane for the second displayed object; and   determining a depth of the second displayed object at its detected intersection with the first displayed object based on the tilt applied to the second displayed object.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 detecting an intersection between the first displayed object and second displayed object includes detecting an intersection between an edge of the first displayed object and an edge of the second displayed object;   determining a depth of the first displayed object at its detected intersection with the second displayed object includes determining the depth of a portion of the first displayed object adjacent to the edge of the first displayed object;   determining a depth of the second displayed object at its detected intersection with the first displayed object includes determining the depth of a portion of the second displayed object adjacent to the edge of the second displayed object; and   comparing the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection includes comparing the depth of the portion of the first displayed object adjacent to the edge of the first displayed object to the portion of the second displayed object adjacent to the edge of the second displayed object.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining data reflecting a global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display, wherein:
 comparing the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection includes determining that the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection are the same; and   storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects includes:
 accessing the maintained global ordering of objects in response to determining that the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection are the same, 
 determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on the accessed global ordering of objects, 
 storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, 
 after storing the data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, updating the maintained data reflecting the global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display, and 
   causing the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display based on the updated data reflecting the global ordering of objects.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining data reflecting a global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display, wherein:
 comparing the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection includes:
 determining that, in a first region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is higher than the depth of the second displayed object, and 
 determining that, in a second region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is lower than the depth of the second displayed object; and 
   storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects includes:
 accessing the maintained global ordering of objects in response to determining that, in a first region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is higher than the depth of the second displayed object and that, in a second region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is lower than the depth of the second displayed object, 
 determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on the accessed global ordering of objects, 
 storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, 
 after storing the data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, updating the maintained data reflecting the global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display, and 
 causing the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display based on the updated data reflecting the global ordering of objects. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 maintaining an overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object for recording other displayed objects that are overlapped by the first displayed object; and 
 maintaining an underlap list that is associated with the second displayed object for recording other displayed objects that are underlapped by the second displayed object, wherein:
 comparing the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection includes determining that the depth of the first displayed object is higher than the depth of the second displayed object at the detected intersection between the first displayed object and the second displayed object; 
 storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects includes:
 updating the overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object to reflect that the first displayed object is overlapping the second displayed object, and 
 updating the underlap list that is associated with the second displayed object to reflect that the second displayed object is underlapping the first displayed object, 
 after storing the data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, updating the maintained data reflecting the global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display based on the updated overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object and the updated underlap list that is associated with the second displayed object, and 
 
 causing the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display based on the updated data reflecting the global ordering of objects. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying a third object on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display; 
 detecting a new intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object; 
 in response to detecting an intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object:
 accessing the overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object, and 
 determining that the first displayed object already overlaps the third displayed object based on the accessed overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object; 
 
 causing the first and third displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display such that the first displayed object is overlapping the third displayed object at their new intersection as a consequence of having determined that the first displayed object already overlaps the third displayed object. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display; and   preserving the display based on the stored data such that overlapping objects are displayed closer to the foreground of the display than the other objects.   
     
     
         10 . A pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device configured to provide a pressure-sensitive control for dragging a displayed object with respect to another displayed object on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device comprising:
 a display for displaying output images;   an input surface for receiving user interaction with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;   a processor; and   a memory storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 display two or more objects on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; 
 detect contact with the input surface by one or more input mechanisms in a region of the input surface that corresponds to a first displayed object; 
 sense a pressure applied to the input surface by the one or more input mechanisms; 
 quantify the sensed pressure applied to the input surface by the one or more input mechanisms detected to be contacting the input surface in the region of the input surface that corresponds to the first displayed object; 
 interpret user interaction received by the input surface based on the quantified pressure; 
 perform a transformation by adjusting one or more of a shape and a location based on the sensed pressure of the first displayed object of the two or more displayed objects relative to a second displayed object of the two or more displayed objects as a function of the interpreted user interaction with the input surface; 
 tracking movement of the interpreted user interaction while the one or more input mechanisms remain in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; 
 based on tracking movement of the one or more input mechanisms during the transformation, detecting an intersection between the first displayed object and a second displayed object; 
 determine a depth of the first displayed object at its detected intersection with the second displayed object; 
 determine a depth of the second displayed object at its detected intersection with the first displayed object; 
 compare the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection; 
 based on a result of comparing the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection, store data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects; and 
 cause the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in accordance with the stored data such that the overlapping displayed object is displayed closer to a foreground of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device than the other displayed object. 
   
     
     
         11 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 adjust a depth of the first displayed object relative to a display plane as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device, wherein adjusting the depth includes:
 calculating a tilt plane for the first displayed object as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the one or more input mechanisms that contacts the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in a region that corresponds to the first displayed object, and 
 applying a tilt to the first displayed object as a function of the calculated tilt plane for the first displayed object; and 
 determining the depth of the first displayed object at its intersection with the second displayed object based on the tilt applied to the first displayed object. 
   
     
     
         12 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 11 , wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 sense a pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device via an additional one or more user interactions in a region that corresponds to the second displayed object;   calculate a tilt plane for the second displayed object as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the additional one or more user interactions in the region that corresponds to the second displayed object;   apply a tilt to the second displayed object as a function of the calculated tilt plane for the second displayed object; and   determine a depth of the second displayed object at its detected intersection with the first displayed object based on the tilt applied to the second displayed object.   
     
     
         13 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 detect an intersection between the first displayed object and second displayed object by detecting the intersection between an edge of the first displayed object and an edge of the second displayed object;   determine a depth of the first displayed object at its detected intersection with the second displayed object by determining the depth of a portion of the first displayed object adjacent to the edge of the first displayed object;   determine a depth of the second displayed object at its detected intersection with the first displayed object by determining the depth of a portion of the second displayed object adjacent to the edge of the second displayed object; and   compare the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection by comparing the depth of the portion of the first displayed object adjacent to the edge of the first displayed object to the portion of the second displayed object adjacent to the edge of the second displayed object.   
     
     
         14 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions for maintaining data reflecting a global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 compare the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection by determining that the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection are the same; and   store data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, wherein storing data further includes:
 accessing the maintained global ordering of objects in response to determining that the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection are the same, 
 determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on the accessed global ordering of objects, 
 storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, and 
 after storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects:
 updating the maintained data reflecting the global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device based on the updated list, and 
 causing the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in accordance with the stored data. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions for maintaining data reflecting a global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 compare the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection, wherein the comparison includes:
 determining that, in a first region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is higher than the depth of the second displayed object, and 
 determining that, in a second region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is lower than the depth of the second displayed object; and 
   store data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, wherein:
 accessing the maintained global ordering of objects in response to determining that, in a first region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is higher than the depth of the second displayed object and that, in a second region of the intersection between the first and second displayed objects, the depth of the first displayed object is lower than the depth of the second displayed object, 
 determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on the accessed global ordering of objects, 
 storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects based on determining that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects, and 
 after storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects:
 updating the maintained data reflecting the global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device based on the updated list, and 
 causing the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in accordance with the stored data. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 maintain an overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object for recording other displayed objects that are overlapped by the first displayed object; and   maintain an underlap list that is associated with the second displayed object for recording other displayed objects that are underlapped by the second displayed object, wherein:
 comparing the determined depths of the first and second displayed objects at their detected intersection includes determining that the depth of the first displayed object is higher than the depth of the second displayed object at the detected intersection between the first displayed object and the second displayed object; 
 storing data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects includes:
 updating the overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object to reflect that the first displayed object is overlapping the second displayed object, and 
 updating the underlap list that is associated with the second displayed object to reflect that the second displayed object is underlapping the first displayed object, and 
 
 after storing the data indicating that one of the first and second displayed objects is overlapping the other of the first and second displayed objects:
 updating the maintained data reflecting the global ordering of objects displayed by the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device based on the updated overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object and the updated underlap list that is associated with the second displayed object, and 
 causing the first and second displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in accordance with the stored data. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory storage devices further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 display a third object on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;   detect a new intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object;   in response to detecting an intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object:
 access the overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object, and 
 determine that the first displayed object already overlaps the third displayed object based on the accessed overlap list that is associated with the first displayed object; 
   cause the first and third displayed objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device such that the first displayed object is overlapping the third displayed object at their new intersection as a consequence of having determined that the first displayed object already overlaps the third displayed object.   
     
     
         18 . A non-volatile computer-readable storage memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
 display two or more objects on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;   receive user input through one or more input mechanisms with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;   sense a pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in a display region that corresponds to a first object of the two or more objects;   adjust one or more of a shape and a location of the first object based on the sensed pressure via a motion of dragging, wherein the motion of dragging is applied to the first object and includes tracking movement of the one or more input mechanisms during the motion of dragging;   based on tracking movement of the one or more input mechanisms during the motion of dragging applied to the first object, detect an intersection between the first object and a second object of the two or more objects;   determine a depth of the first object at the intersection as a function of the sensed pressure;   determine a depth of the second object at its detected intersection with the first object;   compare the depth of the first object with a depth of the second object at their detected intersection;   store data based on the comparison that indicates that one of the first object and the second object is overlapping the other of the first object and the second object; and   display based on the stored data the first object and the second object such that the overlapping object is displayed closer to a foreground of the display than the other object.   
     
     
         19 . The non-volatile computer-readable storage memory of  claim 18 , further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
 adjust a depth of the first object relative to a display plane as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, wherein adjusting the depth includes:
 calculating a tilt plane for the first object as a function of the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the one or more input mechanisms that contacts the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in a region that corresponds to the first object, and 
 applying a tilt to the first object as a function of the calculated tilt plane for the first object; and 
 determine the depth of the first object at its intersection with the second object based on the tilt applied to the first object. 
   
     
     
         20 . The non-volatile computer-readable storage memory of  claim 19 , further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
 display a third object on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;   detect a new intersection between the first object and the third object;   in response to detecting an intersection between the first object and the third object:
 access the overlap list that is associated with the first object, and 
 determine that the first object already overlaps the third object based on the accessed overlap list that is associated with the first object; 
   cause the first and third objects to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device such that the first object is overlapping the third object at their new intersection as a consequence of having determined that the first object already overlaps the third object.